Real Salt Lake is currently first in the West and all of MLS with 33 points. Philadelphia is third in the East, with 26.

Real has yet to lose a game to the Union in Major League Soccer. The Royals have two wins from five meetings, with three draws.

Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath made his MLS debut against RSL on September 3, 2012. He came on to replace injured starter Faryd Mondragon and posted a shutout second half but could not prevent a 2-1 defeat to the Royals

Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran is suspended for his match.

Beltran's suspension came at an opportune time for the fullback, who was called up to the USA squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, along with teammates Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando. Union striker and MLS leading scorer Jack McInerney is also in the U.S. squad. Other nations have similarly drawn from these teams, with Costa Rica's Alvaro Saborio missing from RSL and Trinidad & Tobago's Keon Daniel absent from the Union.